Prepayment electricity meter



Feb. 1l, 1941. A. zrzr-u N15R PREPAYMENT ELECTRICITY METER Filed Dec.22, 1936 Patented Feb. 1l, 1941 UNEE smit

h E N T OFF E Arthur Zenkner, Zug, Switzerland, assigner to Landis &Gyr, A-G., a body corporate of Switzerland Application December 22,1936, Serial No. 117,130 In Switzerland December 26, 1935 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved coin controlled orprepayment electricity meter and more particularly to such a meter whichis adapted to make a basicl or initial charge as a` part of the rateschedule for electric power.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative and typicalembodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic, fragmentary views of modied embodimentsof the invention.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the iixed charge settingmechanism.

The present invention, in certain of its aspects, is an improvement uponthe prepayment meter disclosed in the patent to Onesime Borel, No.1,962,923, granted June 12, 1934, but in other respects is of moregeneral application. It has for its object the provision of a prepaymentmeter in which a portion of the deposited coin is appropriated to pay apredetermined and fixed initial charge, which charge is accumulated as afunction of time. A further object is the provision of a prepaymentmeter in which a predetermined portion of the depositedy coins isappropriated to pay a basic rate as the coins are deposited until thefull basic rate is satisfied and are then further appropriated inaccordance with time as `other coins are deposited.

In accordance with the present embodiments of the invention, a maincurrent controlling switch is closed by the deposit of a coin and isopened by consumption of power or by time. As the coins are deposited,they permit operation of the switch controlling and closing devices, anddefer the opening of the switch in accordance with the number or valueof the deposited coins. As the coins are deposited yand tend to closethel switch, a xed and predetermined portion of their value Aisappropriated to pay for a basic or initial time charge and this isdeducted from theireiect on the switch controlling mechanism, while atthe same time, the power consumed by the customer also serves to tend toopen the switch.

More specifically, assuming that the customer is to be charged for powerat the rate of 5 cents perk. w. h., in addition to basic charges of 50centsat the beginning of each month and 1 cent a day: Upon the customerdepositing 25 cents in the meter, 20 cents of this coin is credited tothe basic charge and the customer may use l k. w. h. When the customerinserts the next coin, of it may be credited to the basic charge, andwith the -third coin, only 10 cents would be credited to the basic rate,leaving the customer a total of 25 cents credit for power. Thus, thecustomer could use 5 k. W. h. 'Ihe insertion of a fourth coin wouldentitle the customer to a full 5 k. w. h. of power. Of course, othervalues, rates and proportions may be provided for by different gearing.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the inventionas shown in Figure 1, the construction in many parts may be identicalwith that shown and described in the patent to Borel and as there shown,the metering means for measuring the consumption of electrical energy in`an induction watt-hour meter of conventional construction whichcomprises the usual meter disc l and driving magnets 2 to drive the discproportionately to energy consumption.

The meter disc I drives a cut-out switch operator 3 of conventionalconstruction through a diierential Il, 5, and 6. Gear 4 is journalled onshaft 8, which shaft xedly carries the support for planet gear 5,whereby movement of gear 5 produces rotation in shaft 8. Gear Si is xedto shaft 'l and is in mesh with planet gear 5. Shaft 'i is mountedindependently of shaft 8 but in alignment therewith so that it mayrotate with respect to it. Cut-out switch operator 3 is directly formedon shaft l. When the cut-out switch mechanism is returned to itsoriginal position by operation of the meter, the cut-out switch isopened in the usual manner, interrupting the supply of current, untilsuch time as it is closed by insertion of coins in the prepaymentmechanism later to be described. The cut-out switch operator 3 has itsshaft l rotatably connected to the dierential shaft 8, and is movedthereby to open or close the switch.

The prepayment device, into which the customer :inserts one or morecoins to close the switch and secure the delivery of an equivalentamount of energy, comprises a pair of slotted discs IIJ, II, mounted onshaft I2, disc II being fast to shaft I2, while the other disc IIJ isloosely mounted on the shaft by means of a sleeve I3 to which isconnected an actuating handle similar to handle I4 of the Borel patent,referred to hereinbefore. The customer inserts coins in the slots I5,linking the two discs together, and then turns an actuating handle,causing the upper disc II and shaft I2 to rotate exactly one-quarterrevolution and releasing the coin at the end of the handle stroke in theusual manner.

At its upper end, shaft I2 carries a gear I6 fixed thereto and also agear I1 rotatable relative to the shaft and gear IS and spaced from gearI6 by means of a hub on gear I6. The gear I1 is also provided with a hubon the face of the gear which is adjacent the upper end of shaft I2.Surrounding the hub of gear I1 and positioned between the face of thegear and a supporting member on shaft I2 is a compression spring I8which acts to force the underface of gear I1Y into frictional engagementwith the hub of gear I6.

The prepayment device is coupled to the cutout switch by means of adifferential gearing which transmits the actuation of the prepaymentdevice to the cut-out switch at two predetermined and different ratios.As embodied, the gears I6 and I1 mesh with gears I9 and 20,respectively, gear I9 being fixed to shaft 2I, while gear 20 is fixed toa sleeve 22 loose on said shaft. Sleeve 22 has fastened to its other enda differential gear 23, which meshes with a revoluble pinion 24 mountedon an arm fixed to shaft 2I, and meshing with the other differentialgear 25 fast to a sleeve 26. Sleeve 25 is loose onl shaft 2I and at itsupper end is connected by rods 23' to a bevel gear 21 which is pressedupwardly by means of the spring 21', which drives differential gear 6through gears 28 and 29 spring 21' serving to hold the gears 21 and y28lightly in mesh.

At the beginning of each monthly or other metering period, the actuationof handle I4 causes a quarter revolution of discs I0, II, and gears I6,I1 for each coin deposited, and differential gear 23 and pinion 24 aremoved thereby in unison to drive the differential gear 25, therebyaccumulating on the cut-out switch mechanism 3 a reserve equivalentto-one-half the value of the coin deposited. Due to the gear ratioemployed, only one-half of the coil value is transferred so long as thegear 4i) hereinafter referred to is free to move, but when the gear 40is not free to move, the full value of the coin will be transferred tothe cut-out switch operator 3 by suitably moving the gearing operatingthe same.

For increasing the ratio of the drive between the prepayment device andthe -cut-out switch, -so that the customer will receive energy value forhis money after the predetermined fixed charge has been paid, means areprovided for holding one of the differential gears against rotation.Where the gears I6 and I1 are of the same size this doubles the rate ofaccumulation of surplus in the cut-out switch. As embodied, a pair ofdiscs 30, 3I cooperate with a pivoted detent 33 loosely mounted on shaft12, which prevents further rotation of the discs when they have beenreturned to zero. Shaft 32 carries a tctalizing register, which isreturned to zero when the fixed predetermined charge has been fullypaid, and comprises a pair o-f register wheels 34, 35 connected togetherby the usual transfer mechanism 36. The units wheel 35 and disc 30 arefixed to shaft 32, while the tens wheel 34 and disc 3l are fast to asleeve 31 loosely mounted on the shaft.

This ratio changing mechanism is driven from sleeve 22, by means of gearwhich drives sleeve 4I through gears 42, 43 and 44, and sleeve 4I isloosely journalled on a longitudinally slidable sleeve `clutch 45, heldagainst rotation on shaft 15', and pressed into clutching engagementwith sleeve 4I by spring 46. At the end of sleeve is a friction cup 41which may be pressed inwardly to release the friction coupling betweensleeves 4I, 45, and permits the service man to set the xed chargeregister 34, 35 at the beginning of each period. The resetting of theiixed charge mechanism is conveniently accomplished by the insertion ofa blunt pencil through a hole in the meter casing, pressing inwardly onthe friction cup 41 and turning it until the register shows the properpredetermined fixed charge.

Other totalizing registers are provided for accumulating the totals ofthe energy metered, the coins deposited and appropriated in paymen-t ofthe fixed charges, the coins appropriated in payment of energy, and thetotal of unappropriated coins.

The register for the total energy consumed comprises a totalizingregister of conventional construction which is driven directly from themeter through pinion 5I.

The register for the total coins appropriated in payment of the fixedcharges comprises the totalizing register 52 which is driven through agear train comprising gears 53, 54, 55 from gear 44, and is actuated byany rotation of gea-r I1.

The register for the total coins appropriated by metered energy andaccumulated against energy to be metered comprises the totalizingregister 56 which is driven directly from gear 28, through pinion 51.

The register for the total unappropriated coins comprises a register 58which is driven rom the differential shaft 8 through gears 59, 60 inaccordance with orbital movement of the differential pinion 5, and isdriven forwardly as coins are deposited, and reversely as they areappropriated by rotation of the meter disc.

As the differential pinion 5 is moved forwardly by the insertion of acoin, the switch is moved to closed position and its control mechanismis then moved beyond open position, while as the meter disc rotates, thepinion 5 is reversely moved so as to appropriate the value of the coinand finally cause the switch to be opened.

By varying the ratio of gears I6, I1, I9 and 20, the precentage of thecoins deposited which is appropriated for prepayment of the fixed chargemay be varied as desired and by choosing a suitable ratio prepayment ofthe fixed charge in full may be required before any current isf suppliedthrough the meter. With the gear ratio as shown, one-half the value ofthe deposited coinsis appropriated until the fixed charge has been paid;but if a higher gear ratio is chosen for the gears I1, 20, so that gears20 and 40 are driven faster than gear I9 and planet 24, then a smallerpercentage of the coin value will be used to pay the fixed charge asgears 40 and 42 and the mechanism. driven thereby will be driven to itsfully paid position sooner.-

Mean-s are provided in accordance with the present invention foraccumulating a time charge which is subsequently paid for by a fixedproportion of the deposited coins. As embodied, there is provided atiming device, such as the rotor 'I8 of a synchronous clock, whichdrives the gear 7| through shaft T2', this gear meshing with sun gear'i3 of the differential 14, while the sun gear i5 is relativelynon-rotatable with reference to the face of clutch 45. Sun gear 15 ismounted on a shaft 75 slidably but nonrotatably mounted Within thesleeve 45 to which the friction cup 41 is attached at the opposite end.Rotation of the cup 41 will thus be transmitted to the sun gear 15.Planetary gear 18 of the differential 'I4 is fast to the shaft 32 towhich are secured the drum; 35 and the cam disc 39, as Well as the unitsdrum of the totalizing register 52. Rotor 'l0 turns slowly and advancesthe cam discs 38 and 3| slowly at a predetermined rate, therebyaccumulating a time :charge which must be paid for by deposited coins.Planet gear 13 is thus advanced by a time factor and is returned to aposition where the spring urged pawl 33 engages in the notches of bothearn discs 39 and 3| by the insertion and partial appropriation ofdeposited coins.

In the operation of the described embodiment, the insertion of a coininto the slots I5 permits the disc to be rotated by rotation of the discI9, and this causes rotation of the gears l5 and i7 and thereby rotationof the gears i9 and 28. Gear 28 rotates gears 48, 42, 48, 44 and l5,causing a reverse rotation of sun gear 'I3 tending to return the drums34 and 35 to zero. When a sufficient number of coins has been deposited,the pawl 33 locks the discs 38 and 3| against further backward rotationand thereby holds the gears '13, 'l5 and 'I8 against ``movement, so thatany further value of the coins is credited entirely to lthe currentcontrolling switch. Rotation of gear 48 rotates sun gear 23 and planetgear 24 is simultaneously rotated by gear I9 through shaft 2| and themovement of sun gear 23 and planet gear 24 rotates sun gear 25. Gear 25is fast to gear 21 to drive the sun gear 6 of the switch: controllingmechanism through gears 28 and 29.

Thus the switch controlling mechanism, of known construction, is set toclose the switch and then advance it so that a corresponding amount ofpower may be delivered to the customer.

As the power i-s measured by the meter sun gear 4 is rotated toreversely move the switch controlling mechanism and tend to open theswitch which is directly actuated by the planet gear 5,

The time charge is subtracted from the value of the deposited coins bymeans of the differential 'i4 which has its sun gear 'I3 moved toadvance the drums 34 and 35, as well as discs 3U and 3|, by the rotor10, and this advance sets the mechanism` so that it will laterappropriate a portion of the deposited coins to pay for the time charge,at the same time crediting the remainder of the deposited coin value tothe current controlling switch. Vihen all of the fixed charges have beenpaid, the differential sun gear 23 is locked against rotation and thefull value of the deposited coins is credited to the switch controllingmechanism.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in which themeter drives a gear 89 fixed to sun wheel 8| of the differential 82,

the rotor 'i9 drives gear 83, which is freely mounted to rotate on itssupporting shaft 84. Gear 84 is fixed to said supporting shaft, as isalso a collar 83. Spring 86' surrounds said shaft and is compressedbetween gears 83 and 84, forcing gear 83,' against collar 83', thusfrictionally connecting gear 83 through the supporting shaft 84' to gear84 and cause the gears to rotate together while the deposited coinsserve to rotate a gear 85. Fixed to gear 84 is a stop pin 83 which maybe set either by the fixed charge knob 4'! or by the timing rotor 7|),and this stop pin is adapted to limit the movement of the army 81 fixedto the shaft 88. Shaft 88 carries gear 89 which meshes with gear 9Ufastened to the sun gear 9|, while gear 99 also meshes with gear 92which is frictionally coupled to the coin controlled gear by the sametype of clutch as connects gears 83 and 84. Gear 85 meshes with the gear93 fixed to the shaft 94 supporting the planet gear 96 travellingbetween sun gears 9| and 9T and sun gear 9i is fast to gear 98 meshingwith the gear 99 which is fast to sun gear |09 of the differential 82.Planet gear |D| meshes with the sun gears 8| and |09, and is mounted onthe switch controlling shaft |03.

In the operation of this embodiment, the switch controlling shaft |83 ismoved in one direction by the meter driven gear 8| so as tocpen theswitch, While it is moved in the other direction by gear |08, and gear|19 may be advanced by the -coin controlled gear or 93. As the firstcoins are deposited, gears 99 and 93 are both rotated until stop arm 81contacts with the stop pin 86, after which pinion 96 is revolved withgear 98 held stationary so as to rotate gear |98 and revolve planetarygear |0|. With the passage of time, stop pin 86 is further advanced bytime, so that the next coin will be partially appropriated as it isdeposited to pay for the time charge, the remainder of the coin beingcredited to the switch mechanism.

In Figure 2 there is shown a further modified embodiment of theinvention in which the switch controlling shaft |03 is directly operatedby planetary gear |9| meshing with the meter driven sun gear 9| and thetime and coin controlled sun gear |80. The timing rotor 19 drives sungear 'f3 in the direction shown by the solid arrow, causing planetarygear i8 to move at half speed in the same direction so as to move thestop arm 81 in the same direction, while sun gear 'l5 is reversely movedby the coin controlled handle |4 through gears H9, Handle I4 also movesgears ||2, ||3 to turn sun gears 4 and H5 in opposite directions untilarm H8 engages stop arm 81, after which kplanetary gear revolves torotate gear |89, thereby revolving gear Thus the deposited coin is firstsimultaneously credited to the fixed charge device and the switchcontrolling means, until arms ||6 and 87 are in engagement, indicatingfull payment of the fixed charge, and thereafter the full value of thecoin is credited to the switch controlling means until a further timecharge has been accumulated, after which this charge is again paid bythe deposit of another coin.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromWithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timingdevice, a coin controlled device, a switch controlling device to limitthe supply of power, mechanism including a difeiential gear trainconnecting said power meter to said switch controlling device, a seconddifferential operated by said coin controlled device, a thirddifferential operated by said timing device, means connecting said thirddifferential to said second differential whereby operation of the latteraffects the drive of said third diierential, means interconnecting saidsecond diierential with said first differential whereby operation ofsaid first differential by said meter is affected by said seconddifferential, and a stop limiting the movement of the time controlleddevice by the coin controlled device.

2. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timingdevice, a coin controlled device, a switch controlling device to limitthe supply of power and adapted to be moved in opposite directions,means connecting the power meter to the switch controlling device formoving the latter in one direction to limit the supply of power, meansconnecting the timing device to said switch controlling device for alsomoving the latter in said same direction and means connecting the coincontrolled device to said switch controlling device for moving thelatter in another direction to obtain a supply of power, a stoppositioned by the timing means, a member connected with the meter andsaid coin control device and movable against said stop thereby andserving to reduce the movement of the switch controlling device.

3. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timingdevice, adjustable stop means including a variable element, a coincontrolled device,` a switch controlling device to limit the supply ofpower, a differential connected with said meter and said switchcontrolling device, a second differential connected to said firstdifferential and said coin controlled device, one of the gears in thesecond differential being controlled in its movement by said adjacentstop, a third differential connected to said timing device and said coincontrol device, and means connecting said third differential with saidvariable element of said stop.

ARTHUR ZENKNER.

